Picker stick stop for looms



pr] 26, 1949. w, J, BUDZYNA 2,468,709

PICKER STICK STOP FOR LOOMS Filed April 27, 1948 `1o 'A I 1 i, -11 V12 4 INVENTOR WALTER JBUDZYN BY A? @mmzzf ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 26, 1949 PICKER STICK STOP FOR LOOMS Walter J. Budzyna, East Douglas, Mass., assign'or to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a cor'- poration of Maine Application April 27, 1948, Serial No. 23,5113

7 Claims.

This application pertains to an invention in Weaving looms, and more particularly, to a novel construction of the lay end of a loom and of stopping means thereat for adjustably limiting the outward movement of the picker, picker stick and shuttle.

It is an object of the invention to provide an adjustable stopping means for the icker stick of a loom which shall be eiective accurately to limit the outward movement of the picker, picker stick and the shuttle controlled thereby. A further object is that of devising a picker stick stop means which is relatively simple, rugged, easily adjusted to compensate or Wear and Which involves a minimum of change in the construction of the loom as now employed. It is another object of the invention to provide the additional feature of adjustability Without substantial increase in cost of the mechanism involved.

A further object is that of providing, along with the advantages of adjustable picker stick stopping means, a lay end construction which is adapted to permit ready Withdrawal of the picker stick from its operating slot without disturbing the parallel motion or other means by which it is attached to the loom and by which it is operated. This added function of the parts provides for quick and easy replaceability of various appurtenances such as check straps of the endless type.

Other objects Will be apparent from the following description of the manner in which the invention is practiced.

According to the prior art, lay ends have been formed With a slot in which the picker stick functions and by which it is guided to some extent. The slot is a closed one and the outer, transverse end thereof toward which the picker stick moves on its outward beats is generally padded or faced with leather or other material against which the stick strikes. This leather pad is subject to Wear and is not capable of being varied except by substitution of another or additional strips or material to alter the thickness of the pad.

Adjustable stop members have been applied as attachments to existing lay ends having closed slots. These, while satisfactory to a degree, do not permit ready removal of the picker stick from its slot, nor can they be aS strongly constructed for withstanding repeated' shock over a long period of time.

A further disadvantage of the devices of the prior art is that the closed slot in the lay necessitates disconnecting the picker stick at the parallel motion Whenever a new check strap is installed if an endless strap is used. Obviously, that is undesirable since time consumed is excessive and it is more than likely that the adjustment of the parallel motion may be disturbed.

More important, the shuttle position in the box is affected by condition of the picker, the conical hole in which is continuously being enlarged by repeated contact with the shuttle Spur, and of other elements including the picker stop pad, above mentioned. Wear of the various parts makes it desirable that a precise and ready adjustment be provided Without sacricing strength of the parts at the lay end Where considerable shock must be repeatedly absorbed over an eX- tended period of time.

According to the instant invention hereinafter described in detail, the above mentioned disadvantages are overcome by so constructing the lay ends of the loom that the picker stick slot therein fis open at its outer end as formed. A picker stick stop member is adjustably but very securely fixed in or at the slot adjacent the other- Wise open end, this stop preferably comprising a block faced with leather or other cushioning material. Clamping means such as bolts is employed to draw the ends of the lay together or otherwise clamp the stop member in a properly adjusted position. Upon wear of parts or whenever for any other reason, the shuttle is not being boxed at the correct position to receive the new weft supply from the battery or other source, the clamping means may be loosened and proper setting of the stop eiected.

If it is desired to replace a check strap of the endless type or for any other reason to clear the picker stick from its slot, the stop means need merely be removed completely. The stick Will then be free to be swung out beyond the lay end. Normally the lug straps or other interconnecting means for reciprocating the picker stick and the resilience oi the stick itself will permit such movement. The check strap may then be threaded over the stick end, the stick reinserted into its slot and the adjustable stop replaced and clamped. When assembled, the lay end becomes virtually an integral structure being as strong as the solid casting heretofore utilized.

One preferred form of the invention is to be described by reference to the accompanying figures of drawing in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a lay, lay end, shuttle box and attendant parts of a loom to which the invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts of Fig. 1 showing, in addition, the picker stick, check strap 3 and l'bracket and the parallel motion for the stick.

Fig. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the parts which comprise the invention.

Now referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the invention will be described as applied to one typical ily shuttle loom although it is to be understood that it is applicable to all similar looms. `A lay II] and lay end I I support a shuttle box which comprises the front box plate I2 and the rear box plate I3 with which operates the binder I4 serv.'- ing its usual function. A shuttle I5 is ofv conventional type and is alternately picked from and returns to the box, being arrested` -therein onits return by the braking action ofthe binder. v

A picker I6 fixed at the end of picker stick I1 has a conical opening in its end-adjacent ythe shuttle for the reception ofthe shuttle spur.

Picker stick I1 is held at its lower end in a parallel motion device of any convenient type herein generally indicated by numeral IB. movement is imparted to stick I1 by pick cams and intermediate means which functions on the stick through a lug strap (not shown).

The picker stick is checked at either end of its travel by a check strap I9 retained in a checkv strap bracket 20. These check straps may be of endless type so that at assembly or replacement of a strap, the loop thereof must be threaded over` the stick when one end of it is free.

In operation the picker stick, after its power stroke, is returned toward the position off Fig. 2 under influence of a heel strap 2|. It is arrested in a position governed by the check strap I9k and is stopped a short distance from its rextreme outer position. The returning shuttle then enters the box and its spur engages in the picker opening and forces the picker and stick outwardly of the lay, It is the normal function of the binder to check the shuttle movement so that there will be just enough kinetic energy therein yto force the picker stick outwardly to its stop which, according to the prior art, has generally comprised a pad of leather or other slightly shock absorbent material at a xed transverse end of the lay. VAfter a period of operation the parts become Worn, es-

pecially the leather pad, the stick and the pickerl opening, so that if set to arrest the shuttle in the precise position for effecting automatic vfilling replenishment, that condition will soon be altered enough so that adjustment is desirable if not absolutely essential.

If, as in actual practice, a different leather padA Now referring also to Fig. 3, the lay-end II isI slotted as at 23, that slot extending out at the end of the piece contra to the practice heretofore evident. The picker stick is rather loosely gui-ded in this slot. At its open end the interior of the slot is machined to receive with working clearance so it may be readily inserted, a block or stop member 24 which has a leather or other resilient,

wear resistant facing 25. Block 24 is slotted at 2li` for passage of bolts 21 which are inserted in suit.- able holes 23 at the lay end. When assembled, the block 24 is clamped in properly adjusted position by tightening the nuts for bolts 21. Obviously,

A pickingv other forms of retaining or clamping means may be employed.

To adjust the block or stop member it is only necessary to loosen the clamping means and to move the member in or out as is desired. It is then reclamped, the whole operation requiring no more than a few minutes.

If a check strap is to be changed, the bolts 21 are removed, block 24 withdrawn and the picker stick swungr back free of the slot 23. 'I'he endless strap may then be threaded over the end of the stick, whereupon it is entered in its bracket and the stickr and other elements returned to their operative position.

Since the block 24 may be rather freely rotated about a transverse, horizontal axis as well as moved in or out, it may be positioned to bear at the best angle with respect to that portion of the stick it contacts.

Variations in the device are contemplated, such, for example, as employing a single clamping bolt or more than two, or if desired, the elongated holes may be cored in the lay end and the block 24 may have circular openings in it, this amounting to no more than a reversal. f

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling Within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

Y I claim:

l. In a loom having a lay, a shuttle box, a shuttle and a picker and picker stick for propelling the shuttle along the lay, a slot in the lay within which the picker stick is moved, said slot being formed open for permitting the picker sticky to be swung free of the end of the slot at the extreme lay end, and a picker stick stop member detachably and adjustably xed within the open end of said slot.

2. In a loom having a lay, a shuttle box, a shuttle and a picker and picker stick for propelling the shuttle along the lay, a slot in the lay Within which the picker stick is moved. said slot being formed open at the extreme lay end, and a picker stick stop member slidably received between the opposed ends of the lay and means for drawing the said ends of the lay together to compress the stop member between them and to clamp it in an adjusted position.

3. In a loom having a lay, a shuttle box, a. shuttle and a picker and picker stick for propelling the shuttle along the lay, a slot in the lay within which the picker stick is moved, said slot being formed open at the extreme lay end, a picker stick stop member comprising a block having a slot therein and adapted to be slidably received between the opposed ends of the lay and fastening means passing through said lay ends and the slot in said block for drawing the lay endsl together and to clamp the block in place between them.

4. In a loom having a lay, a shuttle box, a

shuttle and a picker and picker stick for propeler stick comprising a block having sliding engagement between the said end members, and bolt This application is, therefore, not

means passing through the end members and block for clamping the latter in an adjusted position between them.

5. In a loom having a lay, a shuttle box, a shuttle and a picker and picker stick for propelling the shuttle along the lay, the improvement which comprises an open slot in the lay end within which the picker stick is moved and guided defined by the sides of the lay end which terminat-e in two, opposed, spaced end members, and means for limiting the outward beats of the picker stick comprising a block faced at its stick engaging side with a shock resistant material, aligning openings in said block and end members, one at least of which is relatively elongated and bolt means passing through said openings for drawing the lay end members together to clamp the said block in an adjusted position.

6. In a loom having a lay, a shuttle box, a shuttle and a picker and picker stick for propelling the shuttle along the lay, the improvement which comprises an open slot in the lay end within which the picker stick is moved and guided dened by the sides of the lay end which terminate in two, opposed, spaced end members, and means for limiting the outward beats of the picker stick comprising a block, a leather facing at the stick engaging side of the block, elongated openings in the block and corresponding openings aligning therewith in the end members, and bolts passing through said openings for drawing together the lay end members to clamp the block in adjusted position between them.

'7. In a loom having a lay, a shuttle box, a shuttle and a picker and picker stick for propelling the shuttle along the lay, a slot formed between opposed sides of the lay and within which the picker stick is moved, said opposed sides of the lay terminating in spaced relation beyond the normal point at which the picker stick stops 0n outward beats, a picker stick stop member for closing the slot at its outer end and means comprising slots in one member and bolt holes in the other and connecting bolts for adjustably securing said stop member to the ends of spaced, opposed lay sides.

WALTER J. BUDZYNA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are or record in the i-lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '752,110 Sartwell Feb. 16, 1904 832,025 Peterson Sept. 25, 1906 2,332,366 Belforti Oct. 19, 1943 

